Ashgrove Veterinary Centre

19/07/2025

Some great advice from SSPCA below. There are lots of fledgling gulls at the moment 🐣

If in doubt, call for advice before picking them up 📞

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AjtJzJ8iM/

Every year, many fledglings are mistaken for being abandoned and in danger simply because they are alone and on the ground - this is normal! Gulls are excellent parents and keep a close watch on their chicks, only interacting with them a few times per day.

If you see a fledgling (a young gull which has gained all it's feathers) alone on the ground, it's likely just gaining independence and the parents are monitoring close by. Taking them away from their natural environment can do more harm than good.

Unless the chick has an injury, appears ill or is in immediate danger, you don't need to do anything.

If you're concerned the chick has been abandoned, monitor from a safe distance. If you still think help is required, please call our helpline who can provide guidance on whether the chick needs to be uplifted or whether you should leave it in place.

📞The helpline number is 03000 999 999

12/07/2025

✨Our Saturday Star✨

Everyone meet Ivan 😍. This handsome chap was in recently for x-rays.

In practice, x-rays are a non-invasive technique that allows us to visualise internal structures of your pet's body such as bones and some organs 🩻

10/07/2025

😻Happy National Kitten Day😻

💉Kittens can be vaccinated from 9 weeks of age and the course involves two injections given 3 weeks apart.

🐈We recommend microchipping your feline friend to help reunite you if they go missing.

✂️Here at Ashgrove both male and females can be neutered from 4 months of age.

🪱Since kittens grow so much during their first year we offer monthly weigh and worm appointments which will allow us to prescribe the correct strengths of treatment for your kitten.

Please share your 📸 below of your feline friends!

27/06/2025

🦔 Hedgehog help!
A member of the public brought a hedgehog in to us this morning as it had fallen in the pond and had a prolonged swim.
Our little spiky friend is doing well and will be transferred to New Arc Wildlife Rescue but we need some more details about his usual stomping ground.
Please can the gentleman who dropped off the hedgehog please contact us.
Thank you 🙏🏻

27/06/2025

🔥It’s officially BBQ season🔥

Eating outdoors with friends and family when the sun is shining is a great pleasure however, if you are planning a BBQ they can present some hazards to our pets. Here are ways to keep our four- legged family members out of harms way with some BBQ safety tips.

🧯💨

Keep all pets a safe distance away from the barbecue - hot food, coals and ashes can all cause serious burns to their curious paws and noses.

Smoke from the grill can be very irritating for pet's lungs - they have sensitive airways so keep them well away from the barbecue. This also includes small furries and birds so move their enclosures away from smokey areas.

🍗 🥂

Kebab skewers, bones or the leftover core from a corn on the cob are most commonly consumed at barbecues however, in pets they can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening problems, such as gut blockages.

To prevent any digestive disasters,make sure any flavoursome food leftovers and rubbish are immediately thrown away in a raid free bin.

☀️😎

Our furry pals on warm days can overheat quickly and just because the temperature isn’t warm, humidity can become an issue. To prevent heatstroke, ensure they have access to a shaded area or indoors to cool
down. Make sure there is plenty of fresh, cool drinking water available
at all times.

All animals just like us humans can burn in the sun. Those with lighter coloured fur or thin/patchy coats are particularly at higher risk.

Common places for sunburn are:
-Ears
-Nose
-Eyelids
-Abdomen

22/06/2025

⛱️Beach Hazards⛱️

If you are lucky enough to live by the sea or planning a trip to the beach, here are some hazards to be aware of.

🌊

Some dogs more that others are naturally strong swimmers however even the strongest of swimmers can get into difficulty. Dogs just like us as
humans, dogs have to learn how to swim. If your dog is not used to swimming in the water then the sea is not the place to start so make sure they are kept on lead in a safe depth and keep a close eye on them
at all times.

🦭 🪶 🪼 🐠

Costal wildlife such as seals, birds, jellyfish, fish and seaweed can be washed up on shore – these can be toxic to our four legged friends so
make sure they are not eating anything they should not be!

🏖️
Whilst on your visit, ensure your dog is not ingesting sand. This can be accidently ingested by picking up sandy balls or whilst digging. If swallowed it can lead to obstruction in the intestines and this is know as sand impaction.

☀️
The beach is an exciting outing so make sure your dog is kept as cool as possible.

📸 Here are our staff pets having a ball on the beach! Please share your own photos below! 📸

20/06/2025

☄️HEAT STROKE ☄️

Although the weather has only just started to warm up, please remember warm weather can be very dangerous to our furry family members.

Signs of heat stroke:
🌡️Collapsing
🌡️Heavy panting/dribbling
🌡️Drowsiness/weakness
🌡️Vomiting or diarrhoea
🌡️Increased heart rate

If you think your dog has heat stroke, remember:

💧WET THEN VET💧

‼️Don’t cover them with wet towels and do not mess about with lemons and ice cubes.

‼️Pour enough cool water over your pet to soak them, focussing on the torso, neck and head, then get to us ASAP.

‼️When it is 25°C, tarmac can be 50°C! That’s hot enough to burn paws in a few minutes. You should be able to hold the back of your hand on the ground for at least 7 seconds. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your hound.

‼️Rabbits and cats can also suffer in the heat so make sure you have measures in place to protect them.

Contact us on

Belmont - 01224 486444
Peterculter - 01224 050585
Portlethen - 01224 470144

14/06/2025

✨Our Saturday Star ✨

This handsome boy is Theo who was in recently for his neutering procedure

We love his tufty ears - a breed trait of Maine C**n cats 😻

10/06/2025

✨Microchip Awareness Month ✨

Microchips are a safe and simple way of permanently identifying your furry friend if you are ever separated from them 🐶🐱

What are microchips?
🔴A tiny computer chip that is injected between the shoulder blades, just under the skin. It contains a unique 15 digit code that must be registered with a pet reunification database.

How do they work?
⚪️ If your pet has been found, authorised individuals can use a device that scans the microchip number. It is important to ensure your contact details are up to date, as these are used to get in touch with you to help reunite you with your pet.

Why should I get my pet dog microchipped?
🔵By law, dogs must be microchipped before 8 weeks of age.
🔵Unlike collars and tags, they are permanent so you don’t have to worry about them breaking or falling off. They give you the reassurance that you can be easily contacted if anything happens to your dog

How to find my pet’s microchip number?
🟠If you’ve lost your pets paperwork, you can find out what the microchip number is by taking them to the vets, or contact the database directly if you know what company they are registered with.

Do microchips expire?
🟣The microchip should last for the whole of their life.
🟣You can change or update your contact information via the microchip registration database at any time.

07/06/2025

✨Our Saturday Star✨

Everyone meet Harley 🤩

Harley was in with one of our nursing team for her monthly weigh and worm appointment.

Puppies grow so much during their first year! We offer monthly weigh and worm appointments to alllow us to prescribe the correct strengths of treatment for your puppy.

If you have any questions about flea or worm treatments or would like to book in for a weigh and worm appointment with our fantastic nursing team get in touch on:

📞 01224 486444 (Belmont)
📞 01224 050585 (Peterculter)
📞 01224 470144 (Portlethen)

27/05/2025

We did it!

Sunday was a challenging and incredibly special day for us. As a team, we took on Ben Nevis in memory of our friend Sam, and in support of The Canmore Trust.

We have been utterly blown away by the generosity of our supporters, and it definitely helped us push through the last few hundred metres of ascent in subzero temperatures and high winds.

We will be closing the Justgiving page on Friday so there's still time if you wish to donate.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/ashgrove-ben-nevis?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=015

From all of us at Ashgrove, a heartfelt thank you x

25/05/2025

And they are off! ⛰️

Team Ashgrove tackle Ben Nevis in aid of the Canmore Trust this morning.The weather conditions are not favourable today so please share words of encouragement to help them through the challenging moments

We have been touched by the overwhelming generosity shown to us so far. For anyone still looking to donate, please follow the link below.

THANK YOU!

https://www.justgiving.com/page/ashgrove-ben-nevis